In a show of strength, the UCPN (Maoist) establishment has decided to carry out demonstrations in the capital to be followed by a mass meeting on June 15.

Party chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal directed the leaders of the party's Newa and Tamsaling state committees to make preparations for the rallies during a meeting with them held at party headquarters, Paris Danda, on Friday.

Vice chairman Narayan Kajji Shrestha said the party is going to organise demonstrations in push the agenda of identity-based federalism and to "expose the activities against federalism."

Earlier on the Friday, a meeting of the senior leaders from the establishment faction held at Shrestha's residence in Lalitpur decided to hold the rallies.

The 'show of strength' of the Maoist establishment coincides with the national gathering called by the hardliner Mohan Baidya faction. The Baidya faction decided to go ahead with the gathering, dismissing Dahal's call to cancel the gathering and participate in the national plenum announced by the party establishment in the last week of June.

The hardliner leaders have said that the national gathering might announce a separate party. nepalnews.com